Software-as-a-service deployment of printer drivers and printer profiles

ABSTRACT

A method for configuring, via a website, a computing device to communicate with a printer is described. The method includes creating, via the website, a printer definition for the printer. The printer definition includes a network address, a reference to a printer driver, and a reference to a printer profile. The method also includes sending an install uniform resource identifier (URI) associated with the printer definition. The method further includes receiving an indication that the install URI has been activated by the computing device. The method additionally includes sending an installer to the computing device. The installer installs the printer driver and configures the computing device to communicate with the printer using the network address, the printer driver and the printer profile.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims priority from U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 62/291,475, filed Feb. 4, 2016 for“SOFTWARE-AS-A-SERVICE DEPLOYMENT OF PRINT DRIVERS AND PRINTERPROFILES,” which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to computers andcomputer-related technology. More specifically, the present disclosurerelates to software-as-a-service (SaaS) deployment of printer driversand printer profiles.

BACKGROUND

Computer technologies continue to advance at a rapid pace. Computerscommonly used include everything from hand-held computing devices tolarge multi-processor computer systems. These computers include softwareoperating systems and applications that include user interfaces, inorder to make them useful and accessible to an end user. Computers areincreasingly linked with other computers and other devices, such asprinters, through networks.

One increasingly prevalent model of software licensing and delivery isknown as software-as-a-service (SaaS). In the SaaS model, software iscentrally hosted and delivered on demand, for example, over theInternet.

One of the challenges involved with computers is configuring computersto communicate with printers. Configuring computers to communicate withprinters may require a technician to configure each computerindividually by installing printer drivers and configuring printerprofiles. This can be a time-consuming process. Accordingly, systems andmethods that enable SaaS deployment of printer drivers and printerprofiles may be beneficial.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating one configuration of a system forsoftware-as-a-service (SaaS) deployment of printer drivers and printerprofiles;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating one configuration of a method forSaaS deployment of printer drivers and printer profiles;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating another configuration of a methodfor SaaS deployment of printer drivers and printer profiles;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a software architecture for SaaSdeployment of printer drivers and printer profiles;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating another configuration of a methodfor SaaS deployment of printer drivers and printer profiles;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating yet another configuration of amethod for SaaS deployment of printer drivers and printer profiles;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a website forSaaS deployment of printer drivers and printer profiles; and

FIG. 8 illustrates various components that may be utilized in anelectronic device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A method for configuring, via a website, a computing device tocommunicate with a printer is described. The method includes creating,via the website, a printer definition for the printer. The printerdefinition includes a network address, a reference to a printer driver,and a reference to a printer profile. The method also includes sendingan install uniform resource identifier (URI) associated with the printerdefinition. The method further includes receiving an indication that theinstall URI has been activated by the computing device. The methodadditionally includes sending an installer to the computing device. Theinstaller installs the printer driver and configures the computingdevice to communicate with the printer using the network address, theprinter driver and the printer profile.

Sending the install URI may include sending an email that includes theinstall URI.

Creating the printer definition may include receiving, via the website,the network address of the printer. Creating the printer definition mayalso include receiving, via the website, the printer driver for theprinter. Creating the printer definition may further include receiving,via the website, the printer profile for the printer.

The printer driver may be stored in a repository. The reference to theprinter driver may uniquely identify the printer driver in therepository.

The printer profile may be stored in a repository. The reference to theprinter profile may uniquely identify the printer profile in therepository.

The network address may be an Internet Protocol (IP) address. Thecomputing device may communicate with the printer via direct IPprinting.

The printer profile may include one or more customized printer settings.The one or more customized printer settings may include one or more oftray options, paper options, paper sizes, duplex options, DPI settings,watermark options, name, comment, and location.

Configuring the computing device to communicate with the printer mayinclude creating a network printer port based on the network address.Settings may be configured based on the printer profile.

An electronic device for configuring, via a website, a computing deviceto communicate with a printer is also described. The electronic deviceincludes at least one processor configured to create, via the website, aprinter definition for the printer. The printer definition includes anetwork address, a reference to a printer driver, and a reference to aprinter profile. The at least one processor is also configured to sendan install URI associated with the printer definition. The at least oneprocessor is further configured to receive an indication that theinstall URI has been activated by the computing device. The at least oneprocessor is additionally configured to send an installer to thecomputing device. The installer installs the printer driver andconfigures the computing device to communicate with the printer usingthe network address, the printer driver and the printer profile.

Another method for configuring, via a website, a computing device tocommunicate with a printer is described. The method includes receiving,via the website, a network address, a printer driver and a printerprofile for the printer. The method also includes creating a printerdefinition for the printer that includes the network address, areference to the printer driver, and a reference to a printer profile.The method further includes generating deployment rules based on theprinter definition. The method additionally includes sending thedeployment rules to a printer cloud client on a computing device toinstall the printer driver and printer profile for the printer.

Creating the printer definition may include creating the reference tothe printer driver and the reference to the printer profile. The printerdriver may be stored in a repository. The reference to the printerdriver may uniquely identify the printer driver in the repository. Theprinter profile may be stored in a repository. The reference to theprinter profile may uniquely identify the printer profile in therepository.

The deployment rules may include instructions for the printer cloudclient on the computing device to install and configure the printerdriver and the printer profile for the printer. The printer cloud clientmay be a software agent that exists on the computing device and isconfigured to communicate with a server via the Internet.

Another electronic device for configuring, via a website, a computingdevice to communicate with a printer is described. The electronic deviceincludes at least one processor configured to receive, via the website,a network address, a printer driver and a printer profile for theprinter. At least one processor is also configured to create a printerdefinition for the printer that includes the network address, areference to the printer driver, and a reference to a printer profile.At least one processor is further configured to generate deploymentrules based on the printer definition. The at least one processoradditionally configured to send the deployment rules to a printer cloudclient on a computing device to install the printer driver and printerprofile for the printer.

Various configurations of the systems and methods are now described withreference to the Figures. The configurations of the present systems andmethods, as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein,could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of differentconfigurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of severalconfigurations, as represented in the Figures, is not intended to limitthe scope of the systems and methods, as claimed, but is merelyrepresentative of the various configurations of the systems and methods.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating one configuration of a system 100for software-as-a-service (SaaS) deployment of printer drivers 124 andprinter profiles 128. The system 100 includes a first computing device104 a, a second computing device 104 b, a server 102 and a printer 106.The first computing device 104 a and the second computing device 104 bmay communicate with the server 102 via the Internet 108.

A computing device 104 may be configured to communicate with a network110. A computing device 104 (e.g., first computing device 104 a and thesecond computing device 104 b) may be a desktop computer, laptopcomputer, tablet computer, smartphone, etc.

In an implementation, a network 110 may be a small network. For example,the network 110 may include fifty or fewer printers 106. In anotherimplementation, the network 110 may belong to a large organization wherethe network 110 may include different subnets and may be spread acrossdifferent geographic regions.

One of the challenges involved with computing is configuring a computingdevice 104 to communicate with one or more printers 106 on a network110. To properly communicate with a printer 106, a computing device 104may be configured with a printer driver 124 and a printer profile 128. Aprinter driver 124 may be software that converts data to be printed to aformat specific for a printer 106.

A printer profile 128 may include one or more settings for a printer106. The one or more settings may include tray options, paper options,paper sizes, duplex options, dots-per-inch (DPI) settings, watermarkoptions, name, comment, location, etc. Therefore, a printer profile 128may be a collection of customized printer settings or attributes.

Currently, configuring computers to communicate with printers 106 mayrequire a service provider to configure each computing device 104individually by installing the printer drivers 124 and configuringprinter profiles 128 for each printer 106 on a network 110. This can bea time-consuming process. Furthermore, this process may be prone toerror when being performed by a human. For example, a technician mayenter incorrect information in a printer profile 128 or may associatethe incorrect printer driver 124 with a given computing device 104.

In an approach, an organization may use a dedicated print server toconnect printers 106 to computing devices 104 over a network 110.However, this approach requires adding additional hardware and softwarecomponents to a network 110. This may introduce network complexity andexpense. For example, an organization may need a dedicated informationtechnology (IT) staff to configure and maintain a print server. For manyorganizations, especially smaller organizations, this additionalcomplexity and expense is undesirable. For example, a company with tenpeople and two printers 106 and no IT staff may not want to buy, installand maintain a print server.

The systems and methods described herein provide for a SaaS deploymentof printer drivers 124 and printer profiles 128. A server 102 may host awebsite 111 that is accessible via the Internet 108. The server 102 mayinclude one or more printer definitions 112, a printer driver repository122, a printer profile repository 126, an installer generator 130 and/ora deployment manager 134. Although illustrated as a single entity, theserver 102 may include multiple entities. For example, the server 102could comprise one or more load-balancing routers, one or more webservers, one or more application servers and one or more databaseservers in operable communication with each other.

The server 102 may also be referred to as a SaaS instance. For example,the server 102 may be a virtual server instance that is accessible froma public or private cloud network.

In a first aspect, the server 102 may create a printer definition 112for one or more printers 106. A printer definition 112 may comprise anetwork address 114, one or more printer driver references 116, one ormore printer profile references 118 and one or more install uniformresource identifiers (URI) 120. In an implementation, the networkaddress 114 may be an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the printer 106.In another implementation, the network address 114 may include ahostname of the printer 106.

The printer driver reference 116 may uniquely identify a printer driver124 stored in the printer driver repository 122. The printer profilereference 118 may uniquely identify a printer profile 128 stored in theprinter profile repository 126.

The install URI 120 may specify an access mechanism and a location fordownloading an installer 132 generated by the installer generator 130.In an implementation, the install URI 120 may include a Uniform ResourceLocator (URL) or Uniform Resource Name (URN) that identifies the server102 as a source for an installer 132 or deployment rules 136 toconfigure a printer 106.

The printer driver repository 122 may store one or more printer drivers124. The printer profile repository 126 may store one or more printerprofiles 128. As described above, a printer profile 128 may comprise oneor more settings for a printer 106. The one or more settings may includetray options, paper options, paper sizes, duplex options, dots-per-inch(DPI) settings, watermark options, name, comment, location, etc.

In a second aspect, the server 102 may provide either an installer 132or deployment rules 136 to configure a computing device 104 tocommunicate with the printer 106 using the printer definition 112. In afirst implementation, the server 102 may include an installer generator130.

The installer generator 130 may generate an installer 132 based on aprinter definition 112. The installer 132 may be run by a computingdevice 104. Running the installer 132 may configure the computing device104 to communicate with a printer 106. Configuring the computing device104 to communicate with the printer 106 may comprise creating a networkprinter port based on the network address 114 in the printer definition112, installing the printer driver 124 referenced in the printerdefinition 112, and configuring settings for the printer 106 based onthe printer profile 128 referenced in the printer definition 112.

In one configuration, a service provider may utilize a SaaS deploymentof printer drivers 124 and printer profiles 128 to simplify the deliveryof print services to an organization. An example of a service providerincludes a managed print services (MPS) that provides print services toa user (e.g., customer). Another example of a service provider is aninformation technology (IT) administrator that provides IT services toan organization.

The service provider may use the first computing device 104 a to accessa website 111 hosted by the server 102 via the Internet 108. The serviceprovider may use the website 111 to create a printer definition 112 fora printer 106 that has been or will be provided to a user. The serviceprovider may specify a network address 114 (e.g., IP address orhostname) for the printer 106. The service provider may upload one ormore printer drivers 124 for the printer 106. This may include separateprinter drivers 124 for different operating systems (e.g., MicrosoftWindows, Mac OS X, Linux, etc.), different versions of operating systems(e.g., Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10,etc.), and different computing systems (e.g., 32-bit, 64-bit, etc.),etc. The service provider may additionally upload one or more printerprofiles 128 for the printer 106.

To upload a printer profile 128, the service provider may download andtemporarily install the printer driver 124 on the first computing device104 a. The service provider may then configure the printer profile 128on the first computing device 104 a. The printer profile 128 on thefirst computing device 104 a may then be used to generate a specificprinter profile 128 for the printer 106 that may be uploaded to thewebsite 111.

After creating the printer definition 112, the server 102 may send aninstall URI 120 to the second computing device 104 b via the Internet108. In an implementation, the install URI 120 may be sent in an email,a text message, an instant message, etc. In another implementation, theinstall URI 120 may be added to a deployment rule 136, as describedbelow.

The user may receive the install URI 120 on the second computing device104 b. The user may activate the install URI 120. For example, the usermay click on a link in an email. The second computing device 104 b maysend an indication to the server 102 that the install URI 120 has beenactivated by the user.

The server 102 may generate an installer 132 based on the printerdefinition 112 and send the installer 132 to the second computing device104 b. In some configurations, the installer 132 is generated when theserver 102 receives the indication. In other configurations, the server102 generates the installer 132 prior to receipt of the indication.Activating the install URI 120 may cause the second computing device 104b to download the installer 132.

The second computing device 104 b may next prompt the user to run theinstaller 132. The installer 132 may create a network printer port onthe second computing device 104 b based on the network address 114,install the printer driver 124, and configure the settings for theprinter 106 based on the printer profile 128. After the installer 132has completed, the second computing device 104 b may be configured tocommunicate with the printer 106 over the network 110. In other words,the second computing device 104 b may be configured to print using theprinter 106.

In a second implementation, the server 102 may include a deploymentmanager 134 that may communicate with a printer cloud client 138 on acomputing device 104. The printer cloud client 138 may be a softwareagent that exists on a computing device 104. The printer cloud client138 may be configured to communicate with the server 102 via theInternet 108. In this example, the second computing device 104 bincludes the printer cloud client 138.

The deployment manager 134 may generate deployment rules 136 for a givenprinter 106 based on the printer definition 112. Deployment rules 136may be assigned to printers 106 and are used to determine if a printerdriver 124 or printer profile 128 should be installed on the computingdevice 104. These deployment rules 136 may be created by theadministrator and associated with the printer definition 112 of a givenprinter 106.

In an implementation, the deployment rules 136 can target a specifichostname, group of users, a range of IP address, MAC address or anActive Directory container, organizational unit (OU), computer, user,group, etc. The deployment manager 134 may include targeting rules todetermine which computing devices 104 should have a printer 106installed. On the server 102, an administrator may assign a deploymentrule 136 to the defined printer 106 and/or profile 128. When the printercloud client 138 checks in with the server 102, the printer cloud client138 may consider the deployment rules 136. If a deployment rule 136applies to the computing device 104 or user, the printer driver 124 andprinter profile 128 may be installed.

The server 102 may send the deployment rules 136 to the printer cloudclient 138. The deployment rules 136 may include instructions for theprinter cloud client 138 to install and configure a printer driver 124and printer profile 128 for a given printer 106. In an implementation,the deployment rules 136 may include information included in a printerdefinition 112. For example, the deployment rules 136 may include aninstall URI 120.

In an implementation, the printer definition 112 may include a list ofcomputing devices 104 that are to be configured to communicate with agiven printer 106. For example, a service provider may indicate, via thewebsite 111, which computing devices 104 should be configured to printto a given printer 106. The server 102 may maintain a list of thesecomputing devices 104 in the printer definition 112.

After creating the printer definition 112 for the printer 106, theserver 102 may send the deployment rules 136 to the printer cloud client138. For example, the server 102 may send an install URI 120 to thesecond computing device 104 b via the Internet 108. In animplementation, the server 102 may only send the deployment rules 136 tothe printer cloud client 138 that requests them. One or more printercloud clients 138 may check in with the sever 102 for things to do on aconfigurable basis.

Upon receiving the deployment rules 136, the printer cloud client 138may create a network printer port on the second computing device 104 bbased on the network address 114. The printer cloud client 138 may alsocontact the server 102 to acquire a printer driver 124 and a printerprofile 128 for the printer 106. The printer cloud client 138 mayinstall the printer driver 124, and configure the settings for theprinter 106 based on the printer profile 128. After the printer cloudclient 138 has completed, the second computing device 104 b may beconfigured to communicate with the printer 106 over the network 110. Inother words, the second computing device 104 b may be configured toprint using the printer 106.

In this implementation, rather than force an end-user to click an emailor go to a portal and select to install the printer 106, the printercloud client 138 may perform the printer driver 124 installation andconfiguration.

The systems and methods described herein may be especially beneficialwith smaller organizations that may have fewer than fifty printers 106and may not have dedicated information technology (IT) staff. However,benefits may be realized by larger organizations that wish to simplifyprinter management. Additionally, the SaaS deployment may be printeragnostic (i.e., include support for all printer brands and models),whereas print servers may be limited in the types of printers 106supported. The described systems and methods provide automated printerinstallation without the use of a print server. This provides consistentresults for deploying a printer 106 in an organization while keepingcosts and network overhead down.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating one configuration of a method 200for software-as-a-service (SaaS) deployment of printer drivers 124 andprinter profiles 128. The method 200 may enable a computing device 104to communicate with a printer 106 by receiving printer drivers 124 andprinter profiles 128 from a central host, for example, via the Internet108. The method 200 may be implemented by a server 102 in communicationwith a first computing device 104 a and/or a second computing device 104b.

The server 102 may create 202, via a website 111, a printer definition112 for a printer 106. For example, the first computing device 104 a maycommunicate with the server 102 via the website 111 to specify thenetwork address 114 (e.g., IP address or hostname) of the printer 106.The first computing device 104 a may also upload a printer driver 124and a printer profile 128 associated with the printer 106. In anexample, a service provider using the first computing device 104 a mayprovide the network address 114, the printer driver 124 and printerprofile 128 to the server 102 via the website 111.

The printer definition 112 may comprise a network address 114, one ormore printer driver references 116, one or more printer profilereferences 118 and one or more install uniform resource identifiers(URI) 120. A printer driver reference 116 may uniquely identify aprinter driver 124 stored in a printer driver repository 122. Theprinter profile reference 118 may uniquely identify a printer profile128 stored in a printer profile repository 126.

The server 102 may send 204 an install URI 120 associated with theprinter definition 112. The install URI 120 may specify an accessmechanism and a location for downloading an installer 132 generated bythe installer generator 130. The server 102 may send 204 the install URI120 in an email, a text message, an instant message, etc.

The server 102 may receive 206 an indication that the install URI 120has been activated by the second computing device 104 b. For example, auser of the second computing device 104 b may click on a link in anemail. The second computing device 104 b may send an indication to theserver 102 that the install URI 120 has been activated by the user.

The server 102 may send 208 an installer 132 to the second computingdevice 104 b. The installer 132 may install the printer driver 124 andconfigure the second computing device 104 b to communicate with aprinter 106 using the network address 114, the printer driver 124 andthe printer profile 128.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating another configuration of a method300 for SaaS deployment of printer drivers 124 and printer profiles 128.The method 300 may be implemented by a server 102 in communication witha first computing device 104 a and/or a second computing device 104 b.

The server 102 may receive 302, via a website 111, a network address114, a printer driver 124 and a printer profile 128 for a printer 106.For example, the first computing device 104 a may communicate with theserver 102 via the website 111 to specify the network address 114 (e.g.,IP address or hostname) of the printer 106. The first computing device104 a may also upload a printer driver 124 and a printer profile 128associated with the printer 106.

The server 102 may create 304, via a website 111, a printer definition112 for the printer 106. This may be accomplished as described inconnection with FIG. 2.

The server 102 may generate 306 deployment rules 136 based on theprinter definition 112. The deployment rules 136 may includeinstructions for a printer cloud client 138 on a computing device 104 toinstall and configure a printer driver 124 and printer profile 128 for agiven printer 106.

The server 102 may send 308 the deployment rules 136 to the printercloud client 138 on the computing device 104 to install the printerdriver 124 and the printer profile 128 for the printer 106. The printercloud client 138 may follow the deployment rules 136 to contact theserver 102. The server 102 may send the printer driver 124 and theprinter profile 128 to the printer cloud client 138. The printer cloudclient 138 may then install the printer driver 124 on the computingdevice 104 with the settings included in the printer profile 128.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a software architecture 400 forSaaS deployment of printer drivers 424 and printer profiles 428. Thearchitecture 400 includes a printer cloud admin module 440, a printercloud engine module 452 and a printer cloud client module 438.

The printer cloud admin module 440 may include a customer managementcomponent 442, a system configuration services component 444, an admindatabase 446, a user management component 448 and an auditing servicescomponent 450. In an implementation, the printer cloud admin module 440may be run on a server 102.

The customer management component 442 may enable management of customersvia a website 111. For example, using the customer management component442, a service provider may view and edit details about one or morecustomers on the website 111 from a first computing device 104 a.

The system configuration services component 444 may enable configurationof the website 111 for use by a service provider. For example, thesystem configuration services component 444 may enable configuration ofa default email template, etc.

The user management component 448 may enable management of users of thewebsite 111 (e.g., service providers, IT administrators, etc.). Theauditing services component 450 may monitor changes that happen on thesystem, for example, via the website 111.

The admin database 446 may store data used by the customer managementcomponent 442, the system configuration services component 444, the usermanagement component 448 and the auditing services component 450.

The printer cloud engine module 452 may comprise an import/upload driverservice component 454, a profile capture service component 456, aprinter portal component 458, a communication service component 460, adynamic package builder component 462, a printer install executable 464,a printer driver repository 422, a printer profile repository 426 and adeployment service component 434. In an implementation, the printercloud engine module 452 may be run on a server 102.

The import/upload driver service component 454 may enable uploadingprinter drivers 124 to the printer driver repository 422. For example,the import/upload driver service component 454 may enable a serviceprovider to upload a printer driver 124 from a first computing device104 a to the printer driver repository 422 via the website 111.

The profile capture service component 456 may enable capturing a printerprofile 128 from a computing device 104 or manually editing or creatinga printer profile 128 for upload to the printer profile repository 126.For example, the profile capture service component 456 may provide aninterface on the website 111 through which a service provider may view,enter or edit a printer profile 128 that is saved in the printer profilerepository 126. The profile capture service component 456 may alsocapture one or more printer profiles 128 that are configured on thefirst computing device 104 a and may save the captured printer profiles128 in the printer profile repository 126.

The printer portal component 458 may enable display on the website 111of printers 106 with printer drivers 124 and printer profiles 128 in theprinter driver repository 122 and printer profile repository 126. Theprinter portal component 458 may also enable one or more printers 106 tobe associated with a given user (e.g., customer). For example, using thewebsite 111, a service provider may associate a given printer 106 with auser.

The communication service component 460 may enable sending an installURI 120 to a computing device 104 or user. For example, thecommunication service component 460 may generate and send an email to anemail account associated with a user. The email may include the installURI 120. The service provider may enter details about a user's emailaccount via the website 111.

The dynamic package builder component 462 may dynamically generate apackage that includes an installer 132 for installing a printer driver124 and a printer profile 128. The printer install executable 464 may bethe generated installer 132.

The deployment services component 434 may communicate with a printercloud client 438 on a computing device 104. The deployment servicescomponent 434 may generate deployment rules 136 for a given printer 106based on the printer definition 112 and desired targeting rules.

The printer cloud client 438 may be a software agent that exists on acomputing device 104. The printer cloud client 438 may include a clientdeployment services component 466, an install services component 468, acompliancy services component 470 and a reporting services component472.

If a service provider (e.g., MPS, IT administrator, etc.) chooses toinstall the printer cloud client 438 and assigns a printer 106 to bedeployed to a given computing device 104 or user, the client deploymentservices component 466 checks in with the server 102 and verifies that aprinter driver 124 needs to be installed. The client deployment servicescomponent 466 may automatically download deployment rules 136, theprinter driver 124 and the printer profile 128 from the server 102.

The install services component 468 may be used to install the printerdriver 124 and the printer profile 128. For example, the installservices component 468 may implement the deployment rules 136 receivedfrom the server 102 to install the printer driver 124 and the printerprofile 128 on the computing device 104. This may include creating anetwork printer port based on the network address 114 in the printerdefinition 112, installing the printer driver 124 referenced in theprinter definition 112, and configuring settings for the printer 106based on the printer profile 128 referenced in the printer definition112.

The compliancy services component 470 may check to ensure that theprinter 106 is installed and configured. This may include verifying thatthe printer driver 124 and printer profile 128 are installed. Forexample, if an end-user removes the printer driver 124, the compliancyservices component 470 may identify this change and cause the printercloud client 438 to re-install the printer driver 124.

The reporting services component 472 may collect data about print jobsprinted and send it back to the server 102. For example, when a userprints using a configured printer 106, the reporting services component472 may report details about the print job back to the server 102. Thesedetails may include which printer 106 was used, the number of pagesprinted, the type of paper used, a timestamp of the print job, etc.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating another configuration of a method500 for software-as-a-service (SaaS) deployment of printer drivers 124and printer profiles 128. The method 500 may enable a computing device104 to communicate with a printer 106 by receiving printer drivers 124and printer profiles 128 from a central host, for example, via theInternet 108. The method 500 may be implemented by a server 102 incommunication with a first computing device 104 a and/or a secondcomputing device 104 b.

The server 102 may receive 502, via a website 111, a network address114, a printer driver 124 and a printer profile 128 for a printer 106.For example, a service provider using a first computing device 104 a maycommunicate with the server 102 via the website 111 to specify thenetwork address 114 (e.g., IP address or hostname) of the printer 106.The first computing device 104 a may also upload a printer driver 124and a printer profile 128 associated with the printer 106.

The server 102 may store 504 the printer driver 124 in a printer driverrepository 122. The printer driver repository 122 may include one ormore printer drivers 124 associated with one or more printers 106.

The server 102 may store 506 the printer profile 128 in a printerprofile repository 126. The printer profile repository 126 may includeone or more printer profiles 128 associated with one or more printers106.

The server 102 may create 508 a printer definition 112 for the printer106. The printer definition 112 may include the network address 114, oneor more printer driver references 116, one or more printer profilereferences 118 and one or more install uniform resource identifiers(URI) 120. A printer driver reference 116 may uniquely identify aprinter driver 124 stored in a printer driver repository 122. Theprinter profile reference 118 may uniquely identify a printer profile128 stored in a printer profile repository 126.

The server 102 may send 510 an email that includes an install uniformresource identifier (URI) 120 associated with the printer definition112. For example, the server 102 may generate an email based on userinformation stored in the server 102 and/or supplied by a serviceprovider via the website 111. In an example, the install URI 120 may bea URL for downloading an installer 132 generated by the server 102.

The server 102 may receive 512 an indication that the install URI 120has been activated by a computing device 104. For example, a user of asecond computing device 104 b may click on an install URI 120 link inthe email. The second computing device 104 b may send an indication tothe server 102 that the install URI 120 has been activated by the user.

The server 102 may generate 514 an installer 132 based on the printerdefinition 112. The installer 132 may be an executable file thatincludes instructions to install the printer driver 124 and configurethe second computing device 104 b to communicate with a printer 106using the network address 114, the printer driver 124 and the printerprofile 128. The installer 132 may include the printer driver 124, andthe printer profile 128. In an implementation, the server 102 maydynamically generate 514 the installer 132 in response to receiving theindication from the computing device 104 that the install URI 120 hasbeen activated. In another implementation, the server 102 may generate514 the installer 132 before receiving the indication from the computingdevice 104.

The server 102 may send 516 the installer 132 to the computing device104. For example, the computing device 104 may download the installer132 from the server 102. Upon receiving the installer 132 a user may runthe installer 132 to install and configure the printer 106.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating yet another configuration of amethod 600 for software-as-a-service (SaaS) deployment of printerdrivers 124 and printer profiles 128. The method 600 may be implementedby a server 102 in communication with a first computing device 104 aand/or a second computing device 104 b.

The server 102 may receive 602 via a website 111, a network address 114,a printer driver 124 and a printer profile 128 for a printer 106. Forexample, a service provider using a first computing device 104 a maycommunicate with the server 102 via the website 111 to provide thenetwork address 114 one or more printer drivers 124 and one or moreprinter profiles 128 associated with the printer 106.

The server 102 may store 604 the printer driver 124 in a printer driverrepository 122. The server 102 may store 606 the printer profile 128 ina printer profile repository 126.

The server 102 may create 608 a printer definition 112 for the printer106 that includes the network address 114, one or more printer driverreferences 116, one or more printer profile references 118 and one ormore install uniform resource identifiers (URI) 120. This may beaccomplished as described in connection with FIG. 5.

The server 102 may generate 610 deployment rules 136 based on theprinter definition 112. The deployment rules 136 may includeinstructions for a printer cloud client 138 on a computing device 104 toinstall and configure a printer driver 124 and printer profile 128 for agiven printer 106. The printer definition 112 may further include a listof computing devices 104 that are to be configured to communicate (i.e.,print) with the printer 106. The deployment rules 136 may be assigned toone or more printers 106 and are used to determine if the printer driver124 or printer profile 128 should be installed on a computing device104. These deployment rules 136 may be created by an administrator atthe server 102 and associated with a printer definition 112.

The server 102 may send 612 the deployment rules 136 to the printercloud client 138 on a computing device 104. In an implementation, theserver 102 may initiate (i.e., push) the transfer of the deploymentrules 136 to the printer cloud client 138. In another implementation,the printer cloud client 138 may initiate (i.e., pull) the transfer ofthe deployment rules 136 from the server 102.

The server 102 may send 614 the printer driver 124 and printer profile128 to the computing device 104 to be installed by the printer cloudclient 138 according to the deployment rules 136. For example, uponreceiving the deployment rules 136, the printer cloud client 138 mayestablish a link with the server 102, which sends 614 the printer driver124 and printer profile 128. The printer cloud client 138 may create anetwork printer port based on the network address 114 in the printerdefinition 112, install the printer driver 124 referenced in the printerdefinition 112, and configure settings for the printer 106 based on theprinter profile 128 referenced in the printer definition 112.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a website 711for software-as-a-service (SaaS) deployment of printer drivers 724 andprinter profiles 728. The website 711 may be hosted by a server 102. Thewebsite 711 may be accessible via the Internet 108.

The website 711 may display one or more webpages and/or dialog boxes. Aservice provider may access the website 711 to enter information about aprinter 106 and provide one or more printer drivers 724 and one or moreprinter profiles 728.

The website 711 may provide one or more webpages for creating a printerdefinition 112 for a printer 106. The website 711 may provide a printername component 774 and a network address component 714. The printer namecomponent 774 may be an element (e.g., textbox) for entering the name ofthe printer 106. The network address component 714 may be an element forentering the network address 114 (e.g., IP address or hostname) of theprinter 106.

The website 711 may also include one or more operating system components776. An operating system component 776 may define a certain operatingsystem that may be used by a computing device 104. For example, oneoperating system component 776 may be used for Windows and anotheroperating system component 776 may be used for Mac OS.

A printer driver 724 and printer profile 728 configured for a particularoperating system may be included in the operating system component 776for that particular operating system. For example, a service providermay upload a new printer driver 724 on the website 711. The uploadedprinter driver 724 may be associated with the operating system that theservice provider selects.

The website 711 may also provide additional components associated withcreating a printer definition 112. These components may include aprinter location element and comments about a printer 106.

The website 711 may provide one or more dialog boxes for selecting aprinter driver 124 to associate with a printer 106. The website 711 mayprovide one or more dialog boxes for specifying options for a printerprofile 128. The website 711 may provide a webpage for listinginformation about a printer definition 112, including an install URI720.

The website 711 may provide a client list 780 that displays one or moreclients (e.g., customers) and the printers 106 that are associated witha given client. In an implementation, the client list 780 may be in theform of a drop down tree, where each client has a subset of printer 106.The website 711 may include elements (e.g., check boxes) that allow aservice provider to select one or more clients and/or printers 106 forSaaS-based deployment of printer drivers 724 and printer profiles 728.

The website 711 may also provide a user message configuration component778 that enables the configuration of messages sent to an end-user. Forexample, the user message configuration component 778 may be a webpagethat enables a service provider to configure an email that is sent to anend user.

FIG. 8 illustrates various components that may be utilized in anelectronic device 882. The electronic device 882 may be configured inaccordance with one or more of the computing devices 104 or servers 102described herein.

The electronic device 882 may include a processor 803 and memory 805.The memory 805 may include instructions 807 a and data 809 a. Theprocessor 803 controls the operation of the computing device and may be,for example, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signalprocessor (DSP) or other device known in the art. The processor 803typically performs logical and arithmetic operations based on programinstructions 807 b and/or data 809 b received from the memory 805.

The electronic device 882 typically may include one or morecommunication interfaces 811 for communicating with other electronicdevices. The communication interfaces 811 may be based on wiredcommunication technology, wireless communication technology or both.Examples of different types of communication interfaces 811 include aserial port, a parallel port, a Universal Serial Bus (USB), an Ethernetadapter, an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) businterface, a small computer system interface (SCSI) bus interface, aninfrared (IR) communication port, a Bluetooth wireless communicationadapter and so forth.

The electronic device 882 typically may include one or more inputdevices 813 and one or more output devices 815. Examples of differentkinds of input devices 813 include a keyboard, mouse, microphone, remotecontrol device, button, joystick, trackball, touchpad, lightpen, etc.Examples of different kinds of output devices 815 include a speaker,printer, etc. One specific type of output device 815 that may beincluded in a computer system is a display device 817. Display devices817 used with configurations disclosed herein may utilize any suitableimage projection technology, such as liquid crystal display (LCD),light-emitting diode (LED), gas plasma, electroluminescence, a cathoderay tube (CRT) or the like.

A display controller 819 may also be provided, for converting data 809 astored in the memory 805 into text, graphics and/or moving images (asappropriate) shown on the display device 817. Of course, FIG. 8illustrates only one possible configuration of an electronic device 882.Various other architectures and components may be utilized.

The term “determining” encompasses a wide variety of actions and,therefore, “determining” can include calculating, computing, processing,deriving, investigating, looking up (e.g., looking up in a table, adatabase or another data structure), ascertaining and the like. Also,“determining” can include receiving (e.g., receiving information),accessing (e.g., accessing data in a memory) and the like. Also,“determining” can include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishingand the like.

The phrase “based on” does not mean “based only on,” unless expresslyspecified otherwise. In other words, the phrase “based on” describesboth “based only on” and “based at least on.”

The term “processor” should be interpreted broadly to encompass ageneral purpose processor, a central processing unit (CPU), amicroprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a controller, amicrocontroller, a state machine and so forth. Under some circumstances,a “processor” may refer to an application specific integrated circuit(ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), a field programmable gatearray (FPGA), etc. The term “processor” may refer to a combination ofprocessing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, aplurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunctionwith a DSP core or any other such configuration.

The term “memory” should be interpreted broadly to encompass anyelectronic component capable of storing electronic information. The termmemory may refer to various types of processor-readable media such asrandom access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), non-volatile randomaccess memory (NVRAM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasableprogrammable read only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM(EEPROM), flash memory, magnetic or optical data storage, registers,etc. Memory is said to be in electronic communication with a processorif the processor can read information from and/or write information tothe memory. Memory that is integral to a processor is in electroniccommunication with the processor.

The terms “instructions” and “code” should be interpreted broadly toinclude any type of computer-readable statement(s). For example, theterms “instructions” and “code” may refer to one or more programs,routines, sub-routines, functions, procedures, etc. “Instructions” and“code” may comprise a single computer-readable statement or manycomputer-readable statements.

The term “computer-readable medium” refers to any availablenon-transitory tangible medium that can be accessed by a computer orprocessor. By way of example, and not limitation, a computer-readablemedium may comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical diskstorage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices,removable flash drives or any other medium that can be used to carry orstore desired program code in the form of instructions or datastructures and that can be accessed by a computer. Disk and disc, asused herein, include compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc,digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray® disc where disksusually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce dataoptically with lasers.

Software or instructions may also be transmitted over a transmissionmedium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website,server or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable,twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL) or wireless technologiessuch as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiberoptic cable, twisted pair, DSL or wireless technologies such asinfrared, radio and microwave are included in the definition oftransmission medium.

The methods disclosed herein comprise one or more steps or actions forachieving the described methods. The method steps and/or actions may beinterchanged with one another without departing from the scope of theclaims. In other words, unless a specific order of steps or actions isrequired for proper operation of the method that is being described, theorder and/or use of specific steps and/or actions may be modifiedwithout departing from the scope of the claims.

It is to be understood that the claims are not limited to the preciseconfiguration and components illustrated above. Various modifications,changes and variations may be made in the arrangement, operation anddetails of the systems, methods and apparatus described herein withoutdeparting from the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for configuring, via a website, a secondcomputing device to communicate with a printer, comprising: receiving,at the website, a printer profile and a printer driver uploaded from afirst computing device, the received printer profile comprising printersettings configured on the first computing device using the printerdriver installed on the first computing device, wherein the website ishosted by a server that is accessible by the first computing device viathe Internet; creating, via the website, a printer definition for theprinter, wherein the printer definition comprises a network address, areference to the printer driver uploaded from the first computingdevice, and a reference to the received printer profile; sending anemail that includes a link with an install uniform resource identifier(URI) associated with the created printer definition, wherein theinstall URI specifies an access mechanism and a location for downloadinga printer installer; receiving an indication that the emailed link withthe install URI has been activated by a second computing device;dynamically generating, by a printer cloud engine module on the server,the printer installer to install the printer driver and configure thesecond computing device to communicate with the printer based on thecreated printer definition in response to receiving the indication thatthe emailed link with the install URI has been activated, wherein theprinter cloud engine module is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) modulethat is separate from a printer cloud administration module on theserver; and sending the generated printer installer to the secondcomputing device, wherein the generated printer installer installs theprinter driver and configures the second computing device to communicatewith the printer using the network address, the printer driver, and thereceived printer profile.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein creating theprinter definition comprises: receiving, via the website, the networkaddress of the printer; receiving, via the website, the printer driverfor the printer; and receiving, via the website, the printer profile forthe printer.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the printer driver isstored in a repository, and wherein the reference to the printer driveruploaded from the first computing device uniquely identifies the printerdriver in the repository.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the printerprofile is stored in a repository, and wherein the reference to thereceived printer profile uniquely identifies the printer profile in therepository.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the network address is anInternet Protocol (IP) address.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein thesecond computing device communicates with the printer via direct IPprinting.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the received printer profilecomprises one or more customized printer settings.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, wherein the one or more customized printer settings compriseone or more of tray options, paper options, paper sizes, duplex options,DPI settings, watermark options, name, comment, and location.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, wherein configuring the second computing device tocommunicate with the printer comprises: creating a network printer portbased on the network address; and configuring settings based on thereceived printer profile.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein a printservice provider configures the received printer profile using theprinter driver installed on the first computing device.
 11. The methodof claim 10, wherein the print service provider comprises a managedprint service that provides print services to a user of the printer. 12.The method of claim 10, wherein the printer profile uploaded to thewebsite comprises tray options, paper options, paper sizes and duplexoptions configured by the print service provider using the printerdriver installed on the first computing device.
 13. The method of claim10, further comprising: receiving, from the print service provider viathe website, an indication of computing devices that are to beconfigured to communicate with the printer; and maintaining a list ofthe computing devices that are to be configured to communicate with theprinter in the created printer definition.
 14. The method of claim 13,further comprising: providing, by the website, a client list thatdisplays clients and printers that are associated with a given client;and receiving, from the print service provider via the website, aselection of the second computing device for deployment of the printerdriver and the received printer profile.
 15. An electronic device forconfiguring, via a website, a second computing device to communicatewith a printer, comprising: at least one processor configured to:receive, at the website, a printer profile and a printer driver uploadedfrom a first computing device, the received printer profile comprisingprinter settings configured on the first computing device using theprinter driver installed on the first computing device, wherein thewebsite is hosted by a server that is accessible by the first computingdevice via the Internet; create, via the website, a printer definitionfor the printer, wherein the printer definition comprises a networkaddress, a reference to the printer driver uploaded from the firstcomputing device, and a reference to the received printer profile; sendan email that includes a link with an install uniform resourceidentifier (URI) associated with the created printer definition, whereinthe install URI specifies an access mechanism and a location fordownloading a printer installer; receive an indication that the emailedlink with the install URI has been activated by a second computingdevice; dynamically generate, by a printer cloud engine module, theprinter installer to install the printer driver and configure the secondcomputing device to communicate with the printer based on the createdprinter definition in response to receiving the indication that theemailed link with the install URI has been activated, wherein theprinter cloud engine module is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) modulethat is separate from a printer cloud administration module; and sendthe generated printer installer to the second computing device, whereinthe generated printer installer installs the printer driver andconfigures the second computing device to communicate with the printerusing the network address, the printer driver, and the received printerprofile.
 16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the at least oneprocessor configured to create the printer definition comprises the atleast one processor configured to: receive, via the website, the networkaddress of the printer; receive, via the website, the printer driver forthe printer; and receive, via the website, the printer profile for theprinter.
 17. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the printerdriver is stored in a repository, and wherein the reference to theprinter driver uploaded from the first computing device uniquelyidentifies the printer driver in the repository.
 18. The electronicdevice of claim 15, wherein the printer profile is stored in arepository, and wherein the reference to the received printer profileuniquely identifies the printer profile in the repository.
 19. A methodfor configuring, via a website, a second computing device to communicatewith a printer, comprising: receiving, via the website, a networkaddress, a printer driver and a printer profile for the printer uploadedfrom a first computing device, the received printer profile comprisingprinter settings configured on the first computing device using theprinter driver installed on the first computing device, wherein thewebsite is hosted by a server that is accessible by the first computingdevice via the Internet; creating a printer definition for the printerthat includes the network address, a reference to the printer driveruploaded from the first computing device, and a reference to thereceived printer profile; generating, by a printer cloud engine module,deployment rules to install the printer driver and configure the secondcomputing device to communicate with the printer based on the createdprinter definition, wherein the deployment rules include an installuniform resource identifier (URI) associated with the printerdefinition, wherein the install URI specifies an access mechanism and alocation for downloading a printer installer, wherein the printer cloudengine module is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) module that is separatefrom a printer cloud administration module; and sending the generateddeployment rules to a printer cloud client on the second computingdevice to install the printer driver and received printer profile forthe printer.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein creating the printerdefinition comprises creating the reference to the printer driveruploaded from the first computing device and the reference to thereceived printer profile.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein theprinter driver is stored in a repository, and wherein the reference tothe printer driver uploaded from the first computing device uniquelyidentifies the printer driver in the repository.
 22. The method of claim20, wherein the printer profile is stored in a repository, and whereinthe reference to the received printer profile uniquely identifies theprinter profile in the repository.
 23. The method of claim 19, whereinthe generated deployment rules comprise instructions for the printercloud client on the second computing device to install and configure theprinter driver and the received printer profile for the printer.
 24. Themethod of claim 19, wherein the printer cloud client is a software agentthat exists on the second computing device and is configured tocommunicate with a server via the Internet.
 25. An electronic device forconfiguring, via a website, a second computing device to communicatewith a printer, comprising: at least one processor configured to:receive, via the website, a network address, a printer driver and aprinter profile for the printer uploaded from a first computing device,the received printer profile comprising printer settings configured onthe first computing device using the printer driver installed on thefirst computing device, wherein the website is hosted by a server thatis accessible by the first computing device via the Internet; create aprinter definition for the printer that includes the network address, areference to the printer driver uploaded from the first computingdevice, and a reference to the received printer profile; generate, by aprinter cloud engine module, deployment rules to install the printerdriver and configure the second computing device to communicate with theprinter based on the created printer definition, wherein the deploymentrules include an install uniform resource identifier (URI) associatedwith the printer definition, wherein the install URI specifies an accessmechanism and a location for downloading a printer installer, whereinthe printer cloud engine module is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) modulethat is separate from a printer cloud administration module; and sendthe generated deployment rules to a printer cloud client on the secondcomputing device to install the printer driver and received printerprofile for the printer.
 26. The electronic device of claim 25, whereinthe at least one processor configured to create the printer definitioncomprises the at least one processor configured to create the referenceto the printer driver uploaded from the first computing device and thereference to the created printer profile.
 27. The electronic device ofclaim 26, wherein the printer driver is stored in a repository, andwherein the reference to the printer driver uploaded from the firstcomputing device uniquely identifies the printer driver in therepository.
 28. The electronic device of claim 26, wherein the printerprofile is stored in a repository, and wherein the reference to thereceived printer profile uniquely identifies the printer profile in therepository.
 29. The electronic device of claim 25, wherein the generateddeployment rules comprise instructions for the printer cloud client onthe second computing device to install and configure the printer driverand the received printer profile for the printer.
 30. The electronicdevice of claim 25, wherein the printer cloud client is a software agentthat exists on the second computing device and is configured tocommunicate with a server via the Internet.